2022-04-12 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน - Set – F - fragile & brittle & frail

Revision F

2022-04-12

ศัพท์ น่าสับสน - Set – F - fragile & brittle & frail

แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น 

ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค

 

Dictionary.com:

ออกเสียง fragile = “FRAJ-uhl” or British “FRAJ-ahyl” 

                       Noun = “fruh-JIL-i-tee” or “FRAG-ILE-NESS”

ออกเสียง brittle = “BRIT-l”

ออกเสียง frail = “FREYL”

 

Dictionary of Problem Words and Expressions:

fragile & brittle & frail

These words are interchangeable in their meaning 

           of “weak” and “delicate,” but they do have distinct uses.

Fragile is the opposite of sturdy 

           and suggests that something must be handled carefully 

           to avoid breakage or damage: 

                        “This beautiful China is fragile.” 

Brittle also refer to something that snaps 

           or breaks into pieces 

          but is usually applied to objects that have a hard surface or finish:

                         “This material is as brittle as glass.”

Frail applies particularly to persons, rather than things, 

           and usually refers to such matters 

           as health, mental qualities, and temperament:

 

                  “After a wasting illness, his body seemed more frail than ever.”

                 “His bold hopes for the future have a frail foundation.”

Bric-a-brac is fragile, some conversation is brittle, and an invalid is frail.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

History and Etymology for fragile

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; 

Middle French fragile, borrowed from Latin fragilis, from frag-, 

variant stem of frangere "to break, shatter" + -ilis "subject to, 

susceptible to (the action of the verb)" (alteration of -ibilis -IBLE, 

originally by haplology after verb stems ending in a labial consonant) 

— more at BREAK entry 1

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Choose the Right Synonym for fragile & brittle

Fragile, Frangible, Brittle, Crisp, Friable

mean breaking easily.

 

Fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction 

and need for careful handling.  

                  a fragile antique chair

Frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying 

weakness or delicacy.  

                  frangible stone used for paving

Brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity 

or flexibility or toughness.  

                   brittle bones

Crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.  

                   crisp lettuce

Friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.  

                     friable soil 

Choose the Right Synonym for frail

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Weak, Feeble, Frail, Fragile, Infirm, Decrepit 

mean not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort.

Weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.  

                     felt weak after the surgery

Feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.  

                     a feeble attempt to walk

Frail, implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.  

                     a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

Fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.  

                     a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

Infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age 

or crippling illness.  

                       infirm residents requiring constant care

Decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use 

or old age.  

                       the dowager's decrepit retainers 

 

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:

frag′ile·ly adv.

fra·gil′i·ty (frə-jĭl′ĭ-tē), frag′ile·ness n.

Synonyms: 

fragile, breakable, frangible, flimsy, brittle
These adjectives mean easily broken or damaged. 

 

Fragile applies to

           objects that are not made of strong or sturdy material

            and that require great care when handled: 

                      fragile porcelain plates.
Breakable and frangible mean capable of being broken 

            but do not necessarily imply inherent weakness: 

                       breakable toys;

                       frangible bullets designed to break apart on impact.
Flimsy refers to what is easily broken

              because of inferior materials or workmanship: 

                 "Flimsy and loosely built structures collapsed like 

                  houses of cards under the terrific wrenching 

                  and shaking" (Richard L. Humphrey).
Brittle refers to inelasticity that makes something especially likely to 

fracture or snap when it is subjected to pressure: 

                        brittle bones. See 

Also Synonyms at weak.